Cons

Bottom Line

The 75-room Petit Palace Embassy is located on the most upscale street in the affluent Salamanca neighborhood, Serrano Street. Spacious rooms have contemporary decor with flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms with hydro-massage showers. Some bathrooms even have big Jacuzzi tubs. Other hotel perks include free Wi-Fi, free loaner bikes, and king beds on request (a rarity in Europe). There is also a Spanish restaurant and a snack bar on-site. While some guests find the mattresses too firm and the glass-enclosed bathrooms lacking in privacy, this hotel is a solid pick for its location, freebies, and style.

Oyster Hotel Review

Location

Serrano is arguably the most upscale street in the affluent Salamanca neighborhood of Madrid. It is a shopping hotspot, and celebrities (both local and foreign) walk the tree-lined street in search of Manolos, Carolina Herrera dresses, and Chanel purses. Attraction such as El Retiro (Madrid’s most famous park and once the royal family’s summer home), and the world-renowned El Prado Museum are within walking distance. The Metro and several bus lines run a block from the hotel. The train is an eight-minute walk away.

Salamanca is the only area in Madrid with a grid system, which makes it easier to navigate than other more central areas in the old city. Spanning about 16 by 12 blocks, the area is one of the most expensive parts of the city. There are few sights in the heart of the neighborhood aside from high-end boutiques and expensive restaurants, but major attractions can be reached on foot, and for longer distances it is well connected to the rest of the city via public transportation.

16-minute drive to Madrid-Barajas Airport

Steps to restaurants, bars, and shopping

10-minute walk to Puerta de Alcala

12-minute walk to Retiro Park, Madrid’s most famous garden

15-minute walk to Cibeles

20-minute walk to Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

22-minute walk to El Prado Museum

25-minute walk or 20-minute Metro ride to Puerta del Sol

19-minute Metro ride to La Latina, a nightlife hotspot

20-minute Metro ride to Plaza de Oriente, home to the Royal Palace, the Royal Theater, and Sabatini Gardens

21-minute Metro ride to Plaza Mayor

22-minute Metro ride to Templo de Debod Park, with great views and an original Egyptian temple

23-minute Metro ride to Plaza de Castilla, the financial district

24-minute Metro ride to La Almudena Cathedral

30-minute walk or 19-minute bus ride to Reina Sofia Museum

Bottom Line

The 75-room Petit Palace Embassy is located on the most upscale street in the affluent Salamanca neighborhood, Serrano Street. Spacious rooms have contemporary decor with flat-screen TVs, and modern bathrooms with hydro-massage showers. Some bathrooms even have big Jacuzzi tubs. Other hotel perks include free Wi-Fi, free loaner bikes, and king beds on request (a rarity in Europe). There is also a Spanish restaurant and a snack bar on-site. While some guests find the mattresses too firm and the glass-enclosed bathrooms lacking in privacy, this hotel is a solid pick for its location, freebies, and style.